Floribunda rose plant named ‘SPRochoose’

ABSTRACT

‘SPRochoose’ is a new and distinct variety of rose plant of the floribunda class with flowers of a striking pink blend in an exhibition, hybrid tea form. These flowers are borne initially in clusters that become the center of large sprays of 10 to 40 blooms or more. It has a vigorous and continuous blooming habit, with very good resistance to downy mildew and other rose diseases.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: This new cultivar has the varietal denominationof ‘SPRochoose’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This new and distinct variety of hardy, bush type rose plant of thefloribunda class was developed by me, James A. Sproul, under conditionsof careful and controlled observation, at my nursery in Bakersfield,Calif. It is the result of crossing two seedlings I had previouslydeveloped in my breeding program:

-   -   ‘Pearl Sanford’, a miniature rose, not patented or registered,        as the seed parent.    -   The pollen parent was an unnamed, unregistered and unintroduced        floribunda.

The objective in making the cross that led to ‘SPRochoose’ was toproduce an attractive and highly disease resistant rose plant withclassic, hybrid tea formed flowers. To meet this objective, the parentswere chosen for their disease resistance and attractive hybrid teaformed flowers. The objective was substantially achieved in this newrose variety with its fully double, exhibition, hybrid tea form bloomson a plant since proven to have above average resistance to disease bytesting in several areas across the United States.

This current plant may be compared with its parents, as shown here inTable 1.

TABLE 1 SEED PARENT: POLLEN CURRENT PLANT: ‘PEARL PARENT: ‘SPROCHOOSE’SANFORD’ SEEDLING CLASS Floribunda Miniature Floribunda BLOOM CreamyWhite and White and Pink Deep Coral Pink COLOR Pink Blend Blend FLOWERFully Double Double Double BLOOM average: average: average: SIZE, 3inches in MA 1½ inches 3 inches EXPANDED 3½ inches in CA (only grown(only grown in CA) in CA) BLOOM Tight clusters Small clusters Smallclusters; HABIT develop into large throughout the rapid repeat spraysthroughout season throughout the the season season FRAGRANCE Slight tomoderate Mild Slight PLANT Upright; 3 to 3½ 16 to 20 inches Upright, to3 HABIT feet tall and wide tall and well feet tall. rounded FOLIAGEGlossy to Semi-glossy Semi-glossy semi-glossy

Subsequent to the origination of the cultivar, it was successfullyreproduced by rooting cuttings in Bakersfield and Arroyo Grande, Calif.,and by budding onto ‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented) rootstock in Wasco, Calif.Flowers of these reproductions were noted to run true in all aspects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardy,bush type rose plant of the floribunda class that has several featuresdistinguishing it from other presently available roses, of which I amaware. Among these characteristics is the unique combination of thefollowing:

-   -   flowers borne initially in tight clusters that became the center        of large sprays of buds and blooms of 10 to 16 or more on young        plants, and up to 40 or more on mature plants;    -   multiplicity of colors, and shades of those colors, in each        flower;    -   their fully double, hybrid tea formed flowers;    -   the length of time the flowers last on the plant;    -   its vigorous growth and continuous blooming habit;    -   its upright plant habit;    -   its dark green, semi-glossy foliage;    -   the distinctive red veins in the young foliage;    -   its above average resistance to powdery mildew and black spot;    -   its ability to grow well in containers and in the ground;    -   its ability to root easily from cuttings and to take readily        when budded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The first page of the accompanying illustrations has color picturestaken on Jun. 21, 2012, showing three different views of integral partsof the plants as grown in Ipswich, Mass., receiving full sun for onlyfive to six hours in the middle of the day.

Image #1-1 is a view showing the plant structure of a flowering cane, atnear actual size, with straight and strong flowering stems thatdeveloped from the nodes below the original cluster, which in thisinstance had been cut off.

Image #1-2 is more of a side view of the early stages of a spray offlowers that opened as a pink and creamy white blend, and showing pointsof origination of flowering stems forming the cluster at the top of thisspray, a view of the peduncles and accompanying foliage.

Picture, #1-3, is the top view of a typical cluster at the beginningstages of a developing spray, showing buds, opening blooms and a fadingbloom of flowers that initially opened predominately creamy white. Onthe right side of this cluster, a second and smaller cluster can be seenas part of the developing spray, originating from a node immediatelybelow this first cluster.

The color pictures on the second page show flowers and plants as grownin full sun in Bakersfield, Calif.

Image #2-1, taken on Jun. 25, 2012, is of a mature plant growing in fullsun in the ground.

Image #2-2, taken May 1, 2010, is a single bloom at exhibition stage.

Image #2-3, taken on Jun. 25, 2012, shows the typical stage of thecentral flower in a spray as the buds immediately beneath it were juststarting to unfurl.

Colors are depicted as nearly correct as is possible in a colorillustration of this character.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Following is a detailed description pertaining specifically to this newand distinct variety of rose plant as observed at around three to fiveyears of age, growing on ‘Dr. Huey’ root stock in 15 and 20 inch nurserycontainers, in Ipswich, Mass. Occasional information is from plantsgrown in containers or in the ground in Bakersfield, Calif., and is sonoted. Phenotypic expression can be somewhat variable particularly inrelation to differing cultural conditions. Color references are madeusing The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chartexcept where common terms of color are used.

FLOWERS

-   Blooming habit: Continual bloom on mature plants, new flowers opened    before older blooms faded, and new buds continually developed.-   Borne: Flowers began in clusters of three to six blooms, with a    central bud opening and maturing well ahead of the others in the    cluster. As the buds in this clusters grew and matured, additional    flowering stems developed from the nodes progressively below the    clusters. These grew up quickly and, on mature plants, developed    clusters of their own, each with 2 to 6 blooms that opened quickly,    to constitute a large spray of blooms in all stages. Young plants    may have only a single bloom on most of these additional flowering    stems.-   Bud:    -   -   Form.—Was ovoid, truncated at the base and with a cuspidate            apex.        -   Size.—Before the sepals divided the widths of the centermost            buds in each cluster varied from 17/32 inch to 19/32 inch,            but were most often 18/32 inch. Lengths of those buds varied            from 23/32 to 25/32 inch. (1) The widths of the second            highest buds in a cluster were most often 15/32 inch but            were measured up to as much as 19/32 inch; lengths of each            bud were 1/32 to 3/32 inch greater than their widths. (2)            The widths of the third highest buds in the clusters were            measured from 13/32 to 18/32 inch; lengths were about the            same as the width, being not more than 1/32 inch greater or            smaller. (3) When present, the widths of the fourth highest            buds in a cluster measured from 15/32 to 16/32 inch; lengths            were about the same as their widths, being not more than            1/32 inch less or 2/32 inch greater. (4) When an additional            bud was present in a cluster, it was generally the same size            as the fourth highest bud in that cluster.        -   Color when sepals first divide.—Sometimes different color            combinations were noted on same bud. The first colors            visible on some buds were a light Chartreuse Green, near 1C,            surrounding a basal area of a darker yellow green, near            145B, while other petals on the same bud were a very light            Primrose Yellow, near 4C, surrounding a basal area a bit            darker, near 144D. All these petals usually had a thin line            along the petal margins of near 50A, Claret Rose, and            sometimes with thin blushed streaks of a Delft Rose, near            46D and/or a Turkey Red, near 46C where the petals were            first exposed to the sun. There were other buds where            off-white, near 159D from the Orange-White Group, was the            only color seen, often with no noticeable blushing or            streaking. These flowers opened a creamy white.-   Bloom:    -   -   Form.—The upper profile of the individual blooms began            flattened, became high centered and convex, and finished            flattened convex as the flowers faded. Lower profiles began            cupped, gradually became flattened concave in the full open            bloom, and finished quite concave as the petals drooped and            faded.        -   Size.—First blooms in the center of the first clusters on            any cane were largest, opening to a diameter of 3 13/32 to 3            23/32 inches. When fully expanded, remaining flowers in the            cluster and those on subsequent flowering stems were            somewhat smaller with diameters varying from as small as 2            8/32 inches to as large as 3 2/32 inches and with depths of            1 4/32 inches to 1 21/32 to inches.        -   Lasting quality on plant.—From sepals closed to full open            bloom was 8 to 9 days. Blooms remained fresh, on average,            for an additional 7 to 8 days.        -   Fragrance.—None to mild and sweet.        -   Petalage.—20 to 35 with the highest petal count noted in mid            summer.        -   Petaloids.—12 to 20. While most originated inside the inner            the petals, a few were interspersed between the inner and            intermediate petals.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated.        -   Persistence.—Marcescent; after they withered, the petals            were slow to drop or did not drop until after hips started            to form. Often they remained permanently attached to their            receptacles, which also did not drop but remained firmly            attached to the peduncles, long after they withered.        -   Thickness.—Moderately thick.        -   Substance.—Excellent.        -   Texture.—Adaxial and abaxial surfaces were both satiny.        -   Appearance.—On the adaxial surfaces all veins were slightly            recessed. The abaxial surfaces had only main veins            protruding somewhat, and those were visibly fanning out from            the basal area.        -   Form.—Broadly oblate.        -   Outer margins.—Crescent.        -   Apex.—Retuse; occasionally with two rounded notches on            either side of a rounded apex.        -   Base of petals.—Curvilinear.        -   Size outer petals.—Outermost petals varied from 1 12/32 to 2            2/32 inches wide. Heights of petals varied from 1 4/32 to 1            23/32 inches from the points of attachment to the outer            margins, and with the distance from the points of attachment            to the base of the notches at the apex usually 1/32 to 2/32            inch shorter.        -   Color.—Most flowers were a combination of cream-white and            varying pinks from the moment the sepals divided, while some            opened only a near white color. When full open, all flowers            appeared the same in all aspects, including color,            regardless of their color when the petals first unfurled.        -   Color of flowers that opened predominately pink with creamy            white, as viewed in patent image 1 - 2 .—(1) When the sepals            first divided in the spring, the colors seen on some petals            were a light Chartreuse Green, near 1C, surrounding a basal            area of a darker yellow green, near 145B, and on other            petals, a very light Primrose Yellow, between 4C and 4d,            surrounding a basal area a bit darker, near 144D. Both color            combinations appeared on the same bud. Visible petal margins            had thin edges of a deep Claret Rose, near 50A. When light            exposure was more intense, there were streaks of a Delft            Rose, near 46D, and/or a Turkey Red, near 46C. (2) When the            flowers had opened to exhibition stage (somewhat less than            half open), the adaxial surfaces of the OUTER PETALS were a            cream-white, between 11D and 155B, suffused with medium            shades of Neyron Rose, near 55B, and with darker streaks            near 55A, throughout. The Basal areas were near very light            yellow-green, near 145D, and the points of attachment, were            a darker yellow-green, between 145A and 144D. The abaxial            surfaces were between 159D and 155B with the blush from the            upper surface showing through as a pale pink between 62D and            49D. The basal areas were near 145D and the points of            attachment were near 145B. INTERMEDIATE PETALS had adaxial            surfaces of near 55C, suffused with near 55B. The basal            areas were a medium yellow near 3C. Points of attachment            were a medium Mimosa Yellow, near 8B, or a medium            yellow-green, near 145B, both colors frequently appearing on            adjacent petals within the same flower. The abaxial surfaces            were near 155B, with no hint of pink. Their basal areas were            a Mimosa Yellow near 8B. The points of attachment were near            8B, or a medium green-yellow near 144C, relative to the            color of the immediate adaxial surface. At this exhibition            stage, INNER PETALS were still curled into the center of the            flowers and therefore had not been exposed to sunlight.            Their adaxial surfaces were a combination of white, near            155B, and a very pale pink near 56D, and with more of the            petal lightly suffused with near 55B. The basal areas were            near 8C, becoming near 8D near the points of attachment.            Points of attachment were either near 8D or near 1A, a very            light chartreuse green. The abaxial surfaces were near 155B            with the pink of the upper surface showing through as near            56D. The basal areas were near 8D, and the points of            attachment were near 8B. (3) Particularly in the spring, the            yellow of the basal areas of some of these blooms appeared            somewhat deeper in color and more prominent. The yellow            accentuated the cream-white and pink, lending to the            impression of vibrant pink, cream and yellow blend flowers.            The yellow was not as noticeable on subsequent blooms.        -   Colors of flowers that were predominantly near-white when            they first opened, as viewed in patent image 1 - 3 .—(1)            When Sepals first divided, the color seen was a white, near            159D from the Orange-White Group, and occasionally a small            portion of a petal had a small streak of near 58A, Indian            Lake, where light exposure had been strongest. (2) When            sepals were down, adaxial surfaces were a white, between            158D and 155D. Abaxial surfaces of the petals were a soft            creamy yellow, between 159B and 13D, and occasionally with            the streak of near 58A, where the sepals had first            divided. (3) When flowers were full open but petals were            still turgid and fresh, the adaxial surfaces of the OUTER            PETALS were a very pale creamy yellow between 19D and 11D,            with a blush of near 55B, Neyron Rose, the deepest blush            closest to the margins. The points of attachment were near            2D, a light chartreuse yellow. The abaxial surfaces were            lighter, a creamy white between 11D and 155D, down to the            points of attachment, which also were near 2D. INTERMEDIATE            PETALS were varying shades of medium pink, between 49C and            55C, on the adaxial surfaces, except along the central veins            where they were white, near 155D. Their basal areas and            points of attachment were near 11D. The entirety of the            abaxial surfaces was a pale cream-yellow between 11D and            155A, suffused with near 49D toward the upper and outer            edges. The adaxial surfaces of the INNER PETALS AND            PETALOIDS were a medium-light pink, between 36C and 49C,            with basal areas and points of attachment, near 11D. The            abaxial surfaces of the inner petals and petaloids were            somewhat lighter, between 36D and 49D, and with basal areas            and points of attachment near 11D. When full blown, the            colors on all blooms, whether they opened pink and creamy            white or just creamy white, appeared the same. Just before            the petals began to lose turgidity, adaxial surfaces were            between 11D and 155D, and the outer edges most exposed to            the sun had varying amounts of blushing near 55B, and            sometimes between 55A and 52C right along the margins.            Abaxial surfaces also were between 11D and 155D with the            flush from the upper surfaces showing through. Points of            attachment were near 2D. As the blooms continued to age, the            intensity of the pink blushing continued to increase and            became deeper in color.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Texture and color.—Were the same as that of the adjacent            petals.        -   Unique characteristics.—Petaloids were smaller and of            different forms than the petals. Margins were often ruffled.            Petaloids interspersed between petals were usually cordate,            attached to the receptacle on a narrow, elongated base.            Closer to the center of the flower, petaloids were often            oval shaped, being taller than wide, in contrast to the            petals that were wider than tall. Bases were usually oblique            and were attached to the receptacle by filaments. These            inner petaloids were sometimes curled, folded over or            wrapped around each other; some had one margin running along            the central vein; some were bifid; occasionally there was a            sterile anther attached or the petaloid was wrapped around            an anther. Those that were bifid had a streak of near 155D            from the points of attachment to the points of divide along            the margin.        -   Size.—Petaloids were measured up to 1 12/32 inches wide and            1 14/32 inches long and down to as small as 4/32 inch wide            by 7/32 inch long.-   General tonality: This new rose plant has flowers of varying shades    of light and medium pinks and creamy white blends. In the spring in    particular, the medium yellow from the base of the petals of a    number of the blooms became quite evident causing the flowers to    appear a vibrant pink, cream and yellow blend.-   Sepals: Rolled back ahead of the petals. They were permanently    attached to the receptacle.    -   -   Shape.—Outer sepals were elliptical with truncated bases and            lanceolate apices. Inner sepals were oblong-ovate with            truncated bases and linear apices.        -   Margins.—Outer sepals were edged with stipitate glands and            fine hairs. Along each margin were two lanceolate foliar            appendages that were also edged with stipitate glands. Inner            sepals were only edged with fine hairs.        -   Appearance.—Outer surfaces of the outer sepals were covered            with fine hairs; toward the margins were two rows of            stipitate glands, near parallel to the stipitate glands on            the margins. Outer surfaces of the inner sepals had many            single hairs in the center; hairs became heavy and appressed            toward and along the margins. Inner surfaces of all sepals            had a vestiture of appressed tomentum.        -   Color.—The outer surfaces were near 137B with a lighter            basal area and some blending in randomly either side of the            central vein of near 144A. There were streaks and small            blotches flushed with near 183B, from the Greyed-Purple            Group. With direct light exposure, they were completely            flushed with near 183A, heaviest down the middle, and with            streaks of near 183B throughout. Stipitate glands were            tipped either near 183A or near 183B. Inside surfaces were            near 137C; the basal area and main vein up through the            middle were lighter, near 145C. The tips of the apices were            flushed between 183A and 183B.        -   Size.—Widths of the sepals on full open flowers were            measured from 10/32 to 14/32 inch. The lengths of the sepals            varied from 28/32 inch to 1 12/32 inches.-   Peduncles: Usually remained firmly attached to the stem until well    after they had dried and shriveled and the flowers from further down    the cane had also opened and dried.    -   -   Aspect.—Erect, often with a slight curve just below the            receptacle.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Near 144A, Lettuce Green. Anthocyanin coloration was            variable: It may be completely absent; it may be weak on one            side and absent on the other; or it may be weak on one side            and strong on the other, relative to the amount of direct            light it received. When present the color ranged between            180A and 181B, from the Greyed-Red Group. This is visible in            the patent images: Patent Image 2-1 was a plant growing in            full sun in California and has the darkest anthocyanin            coloration; the plants in Patent Images 1-2 and 1-3 received            a moderate amount of sun and the plant in Patent Image 1-1            received the least amount of sun and is displaying no            anthocyanin coloration.        -   Texture.—Semi-glossy.        -   Appearance.—There were random single hairs and numerous            stipitate glands their entire length of the peduncle. The            stipes, themselves, were near 145D and the glands were            colors varying from 175D to 175A from the Greyed-Orange            Group. A few prickles were found on some peduncles that were            near 175A.        -   Size.—Diameters of the peduncles were uniformly 4/32            inches. (1) Each peduncle was attached to its own flowering            stem. Within each cluster, the flowering stems varied            greatly but were usually short. Lengths of the peduncles            also varied greatly within the cluster as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 2^(ND) CLUSTER PEDUNCLE 1^(ST) CLUSTER ON THAT CANE To main bud2 12/32 inches on a 1 30/32 inches on a 21¼-inch flowering cane. 8⅝-inchflowering stem To 2^(nd) bud 2 6/32 inches on a 1 19/32 inches on a14/32-inch flowering stem. 8/32-inch flowering stem To 3^(rd) bud 129/32 inches on a 30/32 inch on a 9/32-inch flowering stem 7/32-inchflowering stem To 4^(th) bud 1 4/32 inches on a 10/32-inch floweringstem To 5^(th) bud 1 22/32 inches on a 11/32-inch flowering stem

-   -   -    (2) Lengths varied by the stage of the flower. In table 2,            the flowers were in bud stage, with sepals closed or just            starting to crack open. Table 3 compares a cluster at bud            stage to 2 weeks later when the main bud had opened and was            beginning to fade, buds 2, 4 and 5 were half open at            exhibition stage, and bud 3 had the sepals just starting to            unfurl.

TABLE 3 How the peduncles grew. PEDUNCLE MEASURED Jun. 26, 2012 MEASUREDJul. 8, 2012 To main bud 1 30/32 inches 1 30/32 inches To 2^(nd) bud 119/32 inches 1 28/32 inches To 3^(rd) bud 30/32 inch 1 14/32 inch To4^(th) bud 1 4/32 inches 1 10/32 inches To 5^(th) bud 1 22/32 inches 22/32 inches

-   Receptacle: Chalice-shaped.    -   -   Size.—Diameters were 11/32 to 13/32 inch in bud stage to            16/32 to 20/32 inch with blooms full open. At bud stage, the            heights were noted to be the same as the diameter. When            blooms were full open, the height noted was 2/32 inch            greater than the diameter.        -   Color.—When grown where light was most intense, the color            was near 144A, Lettuce Green. There was a heavy blush            adjacent to the corolla of near 180B, a medium shade from            the Greyed-Red Group, and with a lesser degree of blushing            progressing down the receptacle. When farther from, or            somewhat protected from, the light source the color became            lighter, being shades between 144B and 143C. When as light            as near 143C, there was usually no anthocyanin blush.        -   Appearance.—Glossy and glabrous.        -   Texture.—Occasionally there were random hairs near the base.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens, filaments and anthers:    -   -   Quantity.—Varied from 176 to 184 or more.        -   Arrangement.—A row of the tallest stamens was located just            inside the corolla; a second row, a bit shorter, was located            immediately inside and adjacent to the first row; then a            third row of stamens of mixed lengths was located            immediately inside and adjacent to that second row; and            finally, a partial row of the shortest stamens was located            immediately inside and adjacent to the third row.        -   Filaments.—Their color was near 16C, a Buttercup Yellow. The            longest filaments were measured from 15/32 to 16/32 inch,            those in the next row in were measured from 11/32 to 12/32            inch, and the shortest ones and those of mixed lengths were            measured from 3/32 to 8/32 inch.        -   Anthers.—Their color was the same as the filaments, near            16C. They were measured 3/32 inch long and 2/32 inch wide.        -   Pollen.—There was an ample amount of pollen, near 23A,            Cadmium Orange.-   Pistils, styles and stigmas:    -   -   Quantity.—Was around 98.        -   Arrangement.—The pistils originated in an alveola in the            center of the top of the receptacle.        -   Styles.—All were thin. Some were very straight, some were            gently undulate and some only had a gentle curve near the            top. Lengths varied from 3/32 to 11/32 inch. Color of some            was a medium color from the Greyed-Orange Group, near 165C,            and some were a medium color from the Greyed-Purple Group,            near 186A, and within the same flower.        -   Stigmas.—Colors of some of the stigmas were near the same as            the styles to which they were attached. Most stigmas            attached to styles of near 186A were also near 186A. Other            stigmas were near 163C, a straw-yellow from the            Greyed-Orange Group, and were usually attached to styles of            near 165C. Stigmas measured 2/32 inch long.-   Hips: There were three hips available to observe.    -   -   Size.—The diameter of two was 1 2/32 inches with heights of            24/32 and 25/32 inch. The third hip had a diameter of 31/32            inch and a height of 21/32 inch.        -   Surface.—The appearance was semi-glossy and glabrous. There            were occasional hairs scattered on the surface, increasing            somewhat in quantity at the bottom nearing the peduncle and            at the top nearing the sepals.        -   Color.—When mature colors on areas most directly exposed to            the sun were 171B and 171A, a rust orange from the            Greyed-Orange Group, and on adjacent areas with less sun            exposure near 163B, a golden-straw color also from the            Greyed-Orange Group. Areas away from the sun were a            Scheele's Green, near 143C.

PLANT

-   Habit: Upright, uniformly branched.-   Growth: Vigorous and hardy: On mature plants, the first cluster on a    cane began with three to six buds. The central bud usually appeared    recessed to varying degrees within the cluster as the other    flowering shoots grew up and often became taller than the central    bud they surrounded. Additional flowering shoots developed    progressively, from each node on the cane below the cluster, well    before the buds in the cluster started to expand, and quickly grew    up to, or occasionally exceeding, the height of the original    cluster. Each flowering shoot developed its own cluster of 2 to 6    buds. All these flowering stems originating on a single cane    comprised the spray, having 30 to 40 or more buds and flowers in    color simultaneously. Younger plants often only had 10 to 16 buds in    a spray, as the subordinate flowering shoots comprising the spray    occasionally had small clusters but mostly bore only a single bloom.    -   -   Size.—The observed plants grew 25 to 33 inches tall in one            year.        -   Root initiation from cuttings. Under controlled greenhouse            conditions, was 4 to 5 days.        -   Length of flowering stems.—The first canes in the spring            were 18½ to 28½ inches long and initially terminated in a            single bloom. (1) The buds that developed from the base of            and/or just below the base of the peduncle of that first            flower forming the cluster, had short flowering stems of            their own, connecting their peduncles to this main flowering            cane. They were measured as short as 8/32 inch and as long            as 1 3/32 inches. (2) Flowering stems continued to develop            from the nodes below the first cluster, as depicted in            Patent Image 1-1. They varied in length according to the            distance from the crown of the plant. Some were measured            with lengths from 5½ inches up to 11⅜ inches, in consecutive            order, from top to bottom, forming a spray around the            cluster at the top. (3) Each flowering stem would usually            end in a cluster of 2 to 5 flowers. The flowering stems            within these clusters were longer than the flowering stems            in the first cluster at the top of the main cane. They were            measured 1 30/32 to 4 inches long. (4) Flowering stems would            also develop from the nodes of the flowering stems in            paragraph (2). They varied in lengths according to the            distance to the outer circumference of the plant, rather            than to the crown, and often terminated with a single bloom,            especially on younger plants. These were measured at lengths            from 4⅛ inches to 10½ inches.-   Foliage: Pinnately compound, most often with 5 leaflets but also    with 3, 6 or 7. The three-leaflet leaves were mostly located at the    top and base of each flowering stem. Six- and seven-leaflet leaves,    when present, were located on the lower third of the flowering    stems.    -   -   Size of mature leaves.—Averaged 5⅞ inches for the            five-leaflet leaves. Six and seven-leaflet leaves averaged ¾            inch shorter.        -   Leaflets.—Shape was broad ovate. Their bases were rounded            and obtuse. Apices were cuspidate.        -   Appearance.—The adaxial surfaces were notably glossy when            young and became more near semi-glossy when old. Veins were            deeply recessed. The abaxial surfaces were matte. Main veins            protruded completely; primary lateral veins protruded near            completely. There were two to five prickles along the main            veins where they first entered into the terminal leaflets            and the uppermost pairs of leaflets. They decreased in size            as they progressed into the leaflet.        -   Texture.—The adaxial surfaces were glabrous. The abaxial            surfaces were leathery.        -   Edge/margin.—Serration was simple and fine. There were            glands on the tip of each serrate with stipitate glands            along the basal margin, and some between the serrates along            the basal margin.        -   Color new foliage.—Adaxial surfaces were a medium green            between 144A and 143C, and flushed with near 183A, from the            Greyed-Red Group, heaviest along the margin and the along            the veins. The veins retained their deep coloration, well            after the flush began to fade from the rest of the leaflet.            The abaxial surfaces were nearest 144B, a Scheele's Green,            and flushed with near 183B, Oxblood Red, heaviest along the            margins.        -   Color older foliage.—The adaxial surfaces first became near            137A, and finally became a very dark green between 139A and            147A. The medium green on abaxial surfaces first became            between 137C and 147C, and finally became between 137C and            147B. Only the oldest foliage was lacking any anthocyanin            coloration.        -   Petioles.—Color on the adaxial surfaces on young foliage            appeared near 183C, and between the stipules it was lighter,            near 182C. The abaxial surfaces were completely flushed with            a Greyed-Orange, between 177C and 176C. When old, the ridges            along the adaxial surfaces were the same dark green color as            the adjacent leaf surfaces. The color in the grooves became            near 146A and between the stipules it was near 144A. The            abaxial surface became near 144B. SIZE OF PETIOLES: Petioles            were measured from as short as 30/32 inch to as long as 1            30/32 inches, with the shorter petioles on the shorter            leaves. Girths varied from 2/32 to 4/32 inch, regardless of            the leaf size. TEXTURE OF THE PETIOLES: Along the ridges on            the adaxial side there were numerous stipitate glands. The            grooves had many single hairs. The abaxial surface had one            to three prickles in a line along center and many stipitate            glands along the sides.        -   The rachis and petiolules.—Were the same color and had the            same texture as the petiole. On the abaxial surface of the            mature leaf, the near 144B on its petiolules continued along            the main vein going into its leaflets. SIZE OF RACHIS and            PETIOLULES: The rachis varied in length from 28/32 inch to 1            16/32 inch, not relative to leaf size. They had a girth most            often of 5/64 inch, varying from 2/64 to 5/64 inch.            Petiolules to terminal leaflets were most often 20/32 inch            long, varying from 15/32 to 24/32 inch and with a girth            usually of 2/32 inch. TEXTURE OF THE RACHIS and PETIOLULES:            There were two to three prickles in a line along the center            of the abaxial side of the rachis, and two to four smaller            prickles gathered along the sides just below the juncture            with the outermost pair of leaflets. Petiolules usually had            a single prickle on the abaxial surface.        -   Stipules.—Were paired at the base of each petiole. SIZE OF            STIPULES: Lengths varied from 15/32 to 23/32 inch attached,            not relative to leaf length, and from 4/32 to 13/32 inch            angled out, not relative to stipule length, at about a 45°            angle from the petiole. STIPULE MARGINS were loosely            serrated and with many glands and stipitate glands along the            entire margin. Margins of the part angled outward were not            serrated but did have near evenly spaced stipitate glands.            Edges rolled back. COLORS OF STIPULES were a medium green,            between 137C and 146B, on the adaxial surface, and lighter,            between 146B and 143C, on the abaxial surface.-   Resistance: The plants growing in CA showed well above average    resistance to both downy mildew and powdery mildew, as well as rust,    and somewhat above average resistance to blackspot. The plants    observed in MA demonstrated well above average resistance to    blackspot and powdery mildew. Downey mildew and rust are not    prevalent in MA.-   Wood:    -   -   Cane diameters.—The diameter of main canes varied from 19/32            to 21/32 inch. Primary flowering stems had diameters varying            from 9/32 to 11/32 inch. Secondary flowering stems had            diameters ranging from 5/32 inch to 8/32 inch.        -   Length of flowering stems.—Depended on the distance to the            crown or outer circumference of the plant. Main flowering            canes were measured from 18½ to 28½ inches long. Secondary            flowering stems, originating from those main flowering            canes, were measured from 5½ to 11⅜ inches long. Tertiary            flowering stems, originating from those stems, were measured            4⅞ to 10½ inches long. NODES were randomly spaced on all            stems at 1 to 2⅝ inches.        -   Color new wood.—Was a medium green, between 146A and 137C.        -   Color of old wood.—As the stems matured they became a            darker, bluer green, near 137A, flushed on one side in            varying intensities with a brownish purple, between 200C and            183A. The oldest wood was a medium dark-green, between 146A            and 147A, with anthocyanin coloration only absent from the            oldest canes.        -   Texture.—New wood was glabrous. Old wood was glabrous with a            few small spots where lenticels had begun forming near the            bases of the canes. Lenticels were a medium Greyed-Brown            near 199D.-   Prickles: The FORM of the prickles was deltoid. The upper profile    was usually slightly angled downward. The lower profile was often    slightly concave.    -   -   Quantity.—On main flowering stems one to three prickles were            located immediately below each node, with a total of three            to five between nodes, regardless of the distance between            the nodes. There were 10 to 20 in six inches of stem length            with the larger quantity being on the oldest canes. On            secondary flowering stems there were only the one to three            prickles located immediately below each node.        -   Size.—On the main canes the prickles varied greatly in size            from 8/32 to 19/32 inch long. On secondary and tertiary            stems the prickles were 5/32 to 8/32 inch long. The lengths            of all bases were about 1/32 inch longer than the prickles.        -   Color.—When young, prickles were a medium color from the            Greyed-Red Group, near 182B. When older, the prickles were a            dark brown, near 200A. When very old they lightened to near            199B, sometimes with streaks of the near 200A, and bases had            become near 199C.

The new invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of hardyrose plant of the floribunda class, substantially as illustrated anddescribed herein.